Nova Scotia reports 3 COVID-19 deaths; 59 people in hospital as of Monday
The province reported three deaths and 59 people in hospital due to COVID-19 on Monday. The deaths include a man in his 60s in the eastern zone, a man in his 70s in the northern zone, and a man in his 80s in the central zone. All three contracted COVID-19 during the Omicron wave. Two of the 59 people in hospital are in intensive care. N.S. also reported 19 people have been discharged from the hospital since its last update on Jan. 7, and 29 were newly admitted. The ages of people in hospital range from 31 to 100 years old, and the average age is 69.
The vaccination status of those in hospital is:
- Seven (11.9 per cent) people have had a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
- Thirty-five (59.3 per cent) are fully vaccinated (two doses).
- Two (3.4 per cent) are partially vaccinated.
- Fifteen (25.4 per cent) are unvaccinated.
Nova Scotia reported 816 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, with 526 cases in central zone, 110 cases in eastern zone, 70 cases in northern zone and 110 cases in western zone. The province estimated there were 6,906 active cases of COVID-19 as of Monday.
Aberdeen Hospital in New Glasgow is the site of one of three new outbreaks in hospitals reported Monday by Nova Scotia Health Authority. The other outbreaks are at Northside General Hospital and Abbie J. Lane Memorial Building of the QEII Health Sciences Centre. Fewer than five patients at each facility have tested positive.
Applications open for Sector Impact Support Program
Small businesses in Nova Scotia affected by the latest round of COVID-19 public health restrictions can apply for more support. The Sector Impact Support Program covers several industries including restaurants, bars, gyms, live performing arts facilities and recreation facilities. Eligible businesses can receive a grant of 25- to 75-hundred dollars, based on gross payroll costs or gross revenue last November. Economic Development Minister Susan Corkum-Greek says the province knows help can’t come soon enough for businesses needing additional support during the latest wave of the pandemic.
Veteran ER doctor in N.S. says Omicron has ‘overloaded’ already fragile system
A senior Nova Scotia E-R doctor says the pressures being felt in E-Rs are unprecedented in his career, as the Omicron wave overloads capacity of a fragile health system. Dr. Kirk Magee, chief of the central zone network of emergency departments, says each day since Christmas has “gotten worse,” and it’s now the hardest it’s been in his 22 years. Magee says the heart of the problem is a shortage of staff in the hospitals due to COVID infections, creating a bottleneck keeping people in E-R. About 600 out of 22-thousand health staff in the province are off the job because they have contracted COVID-19 or have been exposed to it. (The Canadian Press)
Critics stress health system capacity constraints as Trudeau speaks with premiers
The prime minister and the premiers are under pressure to fix cracks in the health-care system and lessen capacity demands on hospitals as the COVID pandemic continues. Trudeau spoke Monday afternoon with Premier Tim Houston and the other Premiers as they discussed the COVID-19 situation. Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos says Ottawa has spent another 63-billion-dollars on health care since the pandemic started to help shore up provincial systems. Justin Trudeau has said repeatedly that negotiations to adjust health transfers will take place after the pandemic. Several health-care experts argue these conversations should be happening now. (The Canadian Press)
Muskrat Falls hydro project delays cost Nova Scotia Power over $205 million in replacement fuels
Figures from Nova Scotia’s utility agency show that over 200-million dollars was spent on replacement fuels over the last four years because of delays to the Muskrat Falls hydro project in Labrador. The hydroelectricity project was supposed to begin delivering power to Nova Scotia in 2018 but has dealt with several setbacks. Nova Scotia Power told regulators replacement energy costs totalled nearly 50-million dollars in 2018 and 52-million dollars in 2019. The utility agency also says costs were at 57-million dollars in 2020 and more than 47-million dollars from January to October in 2021. (The Canadian Press)
